LITMIR.BIZ

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burned her gut and backed up in her throat. In all the years she’d been in Boston, she’d never considered the possibility that someday the ranch wouldn’t be here, that her childhood home and her family’s way of life could disappear. “Wh-what kind of accidents?”

      Josh crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, this summer we lost a lot of cattle when one of the ponds in the west pasture got tainted with pesticides.”

      She furrowed her brow, perplexed. “How did that happen? We don’t use pesticides in the pastures.”

      “Vandalism, most likely,” Zane said.

      “Vandalism!” She goggled at Zane. “Did you find out who did it? Were they charged?”

      “We may never know.” Josh’s face was dark with disgust. “Not like there were security cameras out there to catch the perp. No cans left around with fingerprints. No reports of the same happening to other farmers.”

      “What about tire tracks or footprints or...or...”

      Zane was shaking his head. “Nada. The ground was too hard thanks to the dry spell in July.”

      “That’s horrible! How many head did we lose?”

      The tap of footsteps heralded their mother’s return before she appeared in Piper’s doorway with a glass in her hand. “Here you go, sweetheart. I—” Melissa McCall stopped short, sending a frown to her sons. “I told you two to skedaddle and let her unpack.” Her scowl softened when she looked from her sons to Piper and back again. “Good grief. What’s wrong? Why the long faces?”

      “They were telling me about the financial troubles the ranch has had. And the poisoning of the west-pasture pond.”

      Their mother pinched her mouth tight in irritation. “Why are you two burdening her with this? She’s only been home five minutes!”

      “Don’t blame them, Mom. I asked. A better question might be why didn’t anyone tell me about the trouble the ranch has been having sooner?” She pinned an accusing look on her mother, then shared the glare with her brothers.

      “Oh, honey, I didn’t want to worry you when there was nothing you could do about any of it. The ranch business is—”

      “Still my business,” she interrupted.

      “Is it?” Zane asked. The bitter edge in his voice surprised her. “Your absence over the last few years would say otherwise. I don’t remember you being here while we were sweating through vaccinations and branding or losing sleep over how to make the books balance.”

      “Zane!” Their mother stepped into her bedroom and set her glass of lemonade down on her dresser with a thump. “That’s enough!”

      He rolled a palm up, his jaw remaining set. “I’m just saying...she chose to move away and not be a part of the nitty gritty of running the ranch. Family is supposed to come first, and it bothers me to know she can turn her back on us so easily.”

      “Bro,” Josh said in a hushed tone, “chill.”

      Piper raised a hand to Josh. “No, that’s okay.”

      “It’s not okay, Piper. I’m sorry he was so rude to you,” Melissa said.

      She shook her head again. “No, I’m a big girl. If that’s how he feels...” She shifted on the bed to face Zane, tucking a foot under her. “Nothing about leaving my family for Boston was easy, Zane. My staying away has nothing to do with my love of the ranch or my family. It’s...complicated. But the last time I checked, I’m still a McCall. I’m still one-third heir to the ranch...eventually.” She cut a wry grin to her mother. “No rush, Mom. Just saying.” Then to Zane, “Just because I chose to accept a scholarship and pursue a career in Boston doesn’t mean I don’t care about the ranch. Especially if the future of the ranch itself is at stake. This ranch is in my blood, same as yours. Don’t shut me out.”

      Zane rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “Here’s the thing, Piper. And don’t take this the wrong way because, well...you know I love you, right? I’d do anything for you.”

      She hummed her disagreement and twitched a corner of her mouth at him. “Except clean the bathroom, as I recall.”

      Zane matched her teasing grin. “Okay, there are exceptions, but...when it counts, I’d die for you.”

      Josh clapped a hand to his heart, his expression melodramatic. “Same here, sister. In a heartbeat.”

      She tossed a throw pillow at Josh. With a withering glance to Zane, she said, “I’m touched. Why do I hear a but coming?”

      “But...” Zane said.

      She tapped the tip of her nose and sent Josh a wink. “Called it.”

      “But...” Zane continued, nonplussed by his siblings, “I see no reason to keep you in the loop if you’re not here on the frontlines, putting in sweat equity every day the way we are.”

      Zane’s bluntness punched Piper like a cattle prod to the gut. She grabbed a fistful of chenille bedspread and squeezed while she swallowed her pain and worked to hide her hurt from the three pairs of eyes studying her. She lifted a shoulder and forced a tight grin. “Love you, too, bro.”

      “Way to win her over before we lay out our proposal,” Josh muttered.

      “What proposal?” she asked.

      Zane and Josh exchanged one of their twin-telepathy glances. After a moment, Josh bobbed a quick nod and said, “We’ll fill you in tonight. Zane and I want to have a family meeting after supper to talk about some ideas we have for the ranch.”

      “Am I invited?” Piper asked, giving Zane a churlish look.

      “Don’t be a brat.” He hooked an arm loosely around her neck and dragged her in for a knuckle noogie to the top of her head. “Of course you are. You’re family, right?”

      Wiggling to her feet and free of his grasp, she swatted at him and straightened her hair. “Am I, Mr. Sweat Equity? Am I allowed an opinion?”

      He easily caught one of her hands as she batted at him and drew her into a hug. “Sure, as long as it agrees with mine.”

      “Okay then, my opinions and I will be there.” She returned his hug, savoring the sense of calm and security that flowed through her after the strained ride from the airport. Her brothers had always protected her growing up, and she’d missed having them close by while she faced the challenges of her life in Boston. Too soon, her brother backed out of the embrace—because heaven forbid he appear too emotional or affectionate!—and, reluctantly, she released Zane. His crooked smile asked silently, Are we good?

      She nodded and returned a we’re good half grin.

      Josh quickly took his brother’s place, giving her a quick squeeze before shuffling toward the door. “Welcome home, Pipsqueak.”

      “Thanks, Doofus.”

      “Ditto,” Zane said.

      Their mother stood back to let her sons pass, and she smiled warmly at Piper. “It is good to have you home, honey. Oh, I’ve missed you!” Her mother stroked her hair and kissed her forehead before following the guys out. “Let me know if you need anything.”

      A sudden, unexpected wallop of emotion surged up in Piper’s throat, making a verbal reply impossible. Instead, she blinked back tears and gave her mother a nod and a smile.

      Turning toward her suitcases on the bed, she dashed away the moisture that stung her eyes and swallowed against the knot that choked her. Why was she so weepy about this trip to the ranch? She hadn’t been this sentimental and fragile even on her first trip back after her freshman year at BC. After the physical, mental and emotional upheaval of the longest year of her life. After having Brady’s baby, surviving finals week while purging all the pregnancy hormones from her system, and

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